Fringe measure

ABSTRACT

A method of making fringe and a device to assist in the making of fringe which consists of a laterally extending base member with a groove laterally extending from end to end on the upper surface or lower surface or both, which groove is adapted to confine strands of fringe material wound around the base member within its borders and a pair of grooves, one formed in each end surface of the base member, oriented perpendicular to the laterally extending groove and adapted to receive a cutting device for severing strands of fringe material overlapping the perpendicular grooves. The device may be made adjustable to accommodate fringe of different lengths.

[ Feb. 11, 1975 3,429,019 2/1969 Linstead 28/2 X Primary E.\'aminer-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent. or FirmMann, Brown, McWilliams & Bradway [57] ABSTRACT A method of making fringe and a device to assist in the making of fringe which consists of a laterally extending base member with a groove laterally extending from end to end on the upper surface or lower surface or both, which groove is adapted to confine strands of fringe material wound around the base member within its borders and a pair of grooves. one formed in each end surface of the base member, oriented perpendicular to the laterally extending groove and adapted to receive a cutting device for severing strands of fringe D04d 7/08 28/2; ll2/64. 142; 223/46; 2/244; 33/2 H, 75 R 103, 107 R. 125 R, 127

Josephine Francis Fisher, 44 Emerson Dr., Norwood. Mass. 02062 July 9, 1973 Appl. No.: 377,645

Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FRINGE MEASURE Inventor:

Filed:

United States Patent Fisher 0 material overlapping the perpendicular grooves. The device may be made adjustable to accommodate fringe of different lengths.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures l /7.7.33/ 3 2Z3 3 223 m mw Tmm SSy O l flz W MH M MO U BRMWRD 733495 044556 999999 HHHHHH 7n -4098 854900 97 667 .9 33 oo 5. 5 909 8336 PATENTEU B 3,864,795

lLmnumm -WIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE 21 FRINGE MEASURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method of making fringe and a device to be used in the making of fringe or tassels which are generally used as decorative attachments to garments or other items made by knitting or crocheting. In the field of knitting and Crocheting many patterns call for the making and addition of fringe, such as, for example, patterns for shawls or blankets. The most commonly suggested prior art method for making such fringe is to cut a piece of cardboard to the desired fringe length and, using this as a measure, cut the required number of strands of yarn or other fringe material. This method has proved unsatisfactory since it is a cumbersome and tedious operation. Further, the cardboard is not substantial and is subject to bending and breaking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device to be used as an assist in the making of fringe or tassels and a method for making fringe with the device. The device consists of a laterally extending base member having an upper and lower surface and a pair of end surfaces. A groove extends between the end surfaces on the upper or lower surface or both. Yarn or other fringe material is wound around both surfaces of the base member from end to end within the lateral groove, until the desired number of strands are present. The base member also includes a groove formed in each of the end surfaces. These grooves are oriented perpendicular to the lateral groove or grooves and are adapted to receive the blade of a scissors or other severing means for cutting the strands of yarn overlapping the grooves at each end. The device may be made adjustable in length to assist in making fringes of various lengths by providing an extendible insert in the base member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view in perspective ofa fringe measure device embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view partially in phantom taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view in perspective of the fringe measure device in an extended position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a fringe making device is illustrated. The device 10 includes a laterally extending base member 11 including an upper surface 12, a lower surface 13 and a pair of end surfaces 15 and 16. The base member 11 defines a centrally located laterally extending groove 17 on the upper surface 12. A similar groove 18 is defined on the lower surface 13. A pair of grooves 20 and 21 are defined, one each, in end surfaces 15 and 16 of the base member 11. The grooves 20 and 21 are oriented perpendicular to the grooves 17 and 18. A number of strands of yarn 19 are shown lying within the grooves 17 and 18 and overlying grooves 20 and 21.

An insert member 22 is provided to cooperate with the base member 11 such that the insert is extendible with respect to the base member to increase the overall operative length of the fringe making device. As best seen in FIG. 3, the insert member 22 is adapted to slide within the base member through by means of a tongue and groove arrangement generally identified as 23 consisting of tongues 23A sliding within grooves 238. The tongue and groove arrangement 23 is illustrated for purposes of example but any of a number of other arrangements may be used to achieve the same result. The insert member 22 includes an upper surface 25, a lower surface 26 and a pair of end surfaces 27 and 28. A groove 30 is formed on the upper surface 25 of the insert member 22 extending between the end surfaces 27 and 28. A similar groove 31 is formed on the lower surface 26. The grooves 30 and 31 are in registry with the corresponding grooves 17 and 18. The insert member 22 also includes a groove 32 defined in the end surface 28 and oriented perpendicular to the grooves 30 and 31. As best shown in FIG. 2, the groove 32 is aligned with and in registry with the groove 21 when the insert member 22 is in its unextended position as shown in FIG. 1.

Releasable fastening means 35 is shown connected between the base member 11 and the insert member 22. The fastening means 35 shown is illustrated as a bolt 36 and a wing nut 37 but it should be apparent that any of a number of other suitable arrangements could be used. The bolt 36 extends throught holes 38A, B or C formed in the insert member 22 and through holes 39A and 398 formed in the base member 11. The func tion of the fastening means 35 is to secure the insert member 22 and the base member 11 in any of a number of predetermined relationships. One relationship is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the fastening means 35 holds the base member 11 and the insert member 22 in the unextended position adapted to accommodate fringe of, for example, 4 inches in length. FIG. 4 illustrates the fastening means 35 securing the base member 11 and the insert member 22 in a second relationship wherein the insert member 22 is extended to accommodate fringe of 8 inches in length. Any number of desired length variations can be accommodated. A plurality of index marks 40 are shown in FIG. 1 scribed on the upper surface 12 of the base member 11. Index marks 41 are shown scribed on the upper surface 25 of the insert member 22.

A method of making fringe utilizing the device illustrated in FIGS. l-4 is as follows:

Step 1. Wind fringe material upon base member 11 from end to end, such that the strands of fringe material lie within the grooves 17 and 18 and overlie the grooves 20 and 21, until the desired number of strands are contained within the grooves.

Step 2. Insert severing means such as, for example, a scissors or knife blade into the groove 20 and cut all of the strands of yarn overlying the groove 20.

Step 3. While holding the severed ends in place, withdraw the severing means from the groove 20 and insert it into the groove 21 and cut all of the strands of fringe material overlying the groove 21.

Step 4. Remove the severed strands of fringe material from the fringe making device for assembly in a desired pattern.

If fringe or a different length is now desired to be made, the releasable fastening means 35 will be removed from the fringe making device to allow the insert member 22 to extend with respect to the base member 11. If fringe of an 8 inch length is desired the insert member 22 will be extended such that the index mark 41B on the insert member 22 is in alignment with the index mark 40A on the base member 11. The releasable fastening means 35 are reconnected securing the insert member 22 and the base member 11 in this position. The method previously described is then repeated to make 8 inch fringe, the only change being that the scissors or severing means will be inserted in groove 32 for severing the strands overlying that groove. If fringe ofa 12 inch length is desired, fastening means 35 are released and the insert member 22 is moved until index mark 41C is in alignment with index trated embodiments of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements are to be given their fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fringe making device including a base member having an'upper surface, a lower surface and a pair of end surfaces; fringe receiving means comprising a laterally extending groove formed in at least one of said upper or lower surfaces adapted to receive and confine strands of fringe material wound around said base member parallel to said groove; a cutting groove defined in at least one of said end surfaces disposed at an angle to said laterally extending groove; an extensible insert member having an upper surface and a lower surface including a laterally extending groove formed in at least one of said upper or lower surfaces, said insert member adapted to be positioned relative to said base member such that said laterally extending groove of said insert member is in registry with said laterally extending groove of said base member, said insert memher being cooperative with said base member to extend from said base member to increase the effective length of said fringe making device, and releasable fastening means disposed between said base member and said insert member adapted to releasably secure said base member and said insert member in any of a number of predetermined relationships. 

1. A fringe making device including a base member having an upper surface, a lower surface and a pair of end surfaces; fringe receiving means comprising a laterally extending groove formed in at least one of said upper or lower surfaces adapted to receive and confine strands of fringe material wound around said base member parallel to said groove; a cutting groove defined in at least one of said end surfaces disposed at an angle to said laterally extending groove; an extensible insert member having an upper surface and a lower surface including a laterally extending groove formed in at least one of said upper or lower surfaces, said insert member adapted to be positioned relative to said base member such that said laterally extending groove of said insert member is in registry with said laterally extending groove of said base member, said insert member being cooperative with said base member to extend from said base member to increase the effective length of said firnge making device, and releasable fastening means disposed between said base member and said insert member adapted to releasably secure said base member and said insert member in any of a number of predetermined relationships. 